(77) JERRY FULLER - RICK NELSON'S SPECIAL SONGWRITER

Jerry Fuller was another of my talented musical peers at American Music. Jerry had also once been on Challenge Records, Gene Autry's label, like Jerry Cole. He had a hit with the "Tennessee Waltz" which had first been a hit for Patti Page, on Challenge. Jerry is best known for being the writer of "Travelin' Man" which was recorded by Sam Cooke, but more famously, Rick Nelson. The demo record went from Joe Osborne, the base player, to Rick.

Sometimes a demo, for all the creative talent, energy, and money, it took to make it, got lost under a stack of other demos an artist was sent. A demo could sit for years waiting for someone to play it, so personal contacts and recommendations were important - the "pitch."

The Rockin Country Style's Discography for Jerry Fuller is linked above!

Now, listen to "First Loves Never Dies." Elvis used to play that song himself. He loved it. And when the lyrics "first loves never dies" was heard, he would put his finger in the air as if he were making a point to the guys. The woman he was thinking about, was a woman he loved before he was famous - Dixie Locke. Elvis never knew, after he was famous, if a woman loved him for himself or not. Dixie had.

Jerry Fuller's web site here tells his success story as a songwriter best.

http://www.jerryfuller.com/

Jerry plays his frets like Jimmie Rodgers.

(61) ROULETTE RECORDS - MORRIS LEVY

Roulette Records was where I was signed by Morris Levy. Morris Levy had once owned the famous Birdland jazz club in New York City and had offices in the Brill building. The very first record he had ever released on his Roulette Label (#4001) was Jimmy Bowen's "I'm Stickin' With You" (#4002) and the second was Buddy Knox's "Party Doll", both hits in 1957, and of course I was friends with both and performed at various venues with both artists.

My friend Jimmie Rodgers was also on Roulette.

I did a single for Roulette, which was "Melodie D'Amour," (The A side) and "I Guess I'll Never Know" (The B.) When I had the demo made, I ran into Ersel Hickey. He was heading over to Theresa Brandie's flat. "Let's Listen to it over there," Ersel said, so we went over, put it on the turn table, and Ersel thought "You have a hit."

Ersel wasn't the only person who loved "Melodie D'Amour." Elvis did too. He played it over and over again without another song in between, which is what he did when he really loved a song. I had to wonder if this had something to do with the fact that Dewey Phillips had played "That's All Right Mama" over and over again - with no record in between - when he played Elvis' record on his Red Hot and Blue radio program, which started Elvis' fame and fortune. One of the entourage told me that Elvis had even sung along with my record. When he got back to Los Angeles, he had it put in his juke box, and when it was spent from being played in the juke, he gave it to one of the entourage to keep.

When I stayed over at Elvis' he had a cute way of waking me up after a long party. He would put one of my own records on the turntable, turn it up loud, then stand over me, and say "I though that'd wake you up!"

The history of Roulette Records, a small label, by David Edwards and Mike Callahan here is comprehensive and we're really impressed with what they have to offer researchers in their "stereo newsletter" about other labels as well. Link above!

VIDEO ADDED JULY 2013

(38) JIMMIE "HONEYCOMB" RODGERS & ROULETTE RECORDS

Just as my music friends had encouraged me to change labels when I was with United Artist's Record label, after the one record with Clock Records, they encouraged me to change labels again. Changing labels wasn't uncommon. It was like people do today, stay at a job a year, see no future, change jobs again.

This time it was my friend Jimmie "Honeycomb" Rodgers who encouraged me to join Roulette records where he was signed. Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen also thought I should be on Roulette, also their label at this point. They eased my way a bit, talking me up at the company, and I would soon be signed.

Jimmie Rodger's has a common name, and as you'll see when you read a bit about him, there were a few other musicians and singers with that same name, so the Jimmie that was my friend got to be known as Jimmie "Honeycomb" Rodgers or "Mr. Honeycomb."

Here's a YouTube video of Jimmie singing "Honey Comb"

NEW VIDEO embedded January 13, 2011

A few years ago, after three brain surgeries, Jimmie Rodgers got himself back on stage! Here is an interview with Jimmie... New link January 13, 2011... Click on the title to get there!